Dear MLS: Please stop padding players’ stats

First, let me clear the air and say I am not bringing this up to pick on Bobby Boswell, who accidentally deflected Espindola’s shot into the Dynamo goal for the own-goal in Saturday’s 1-1 tie against Real Salt Lake at The Rob.

It was just that, an accidental deflection. Boswell was simply trying to make a play. It was unfortunate, but it happens. All is forgiven.

But the score was what it was: an own-goal. Espindola’s shot was going wide of the far post. Check the replay. It was going to be an embarrassing miss, too.

And it was an own-goal until the Dynamo PR got word from MLS PR midway through the game that the stat be changed to a goal by Espindola.

I have enough trouble accepting MLS’ hockey assists. I think many of them are bogus. I can think of at least three such assists given to three different Dynamo players so far this season that were not really assists.

But if MLS is at least consistent about awarding them, there is not much I can say about it.

Of course, in Saturday’s case it’s a win-win for both players. Espindola gets a goal, and Bobby does not get an own-goal (own-goals tend to be a tad embarrassing for defenders).

Who loses? The fans.

Because the score was a goal on the official stats sheet, its description in my story had to be changed on first reference. Of course, later in the story you learned of how the score really happened. But still.

If you took a look solely at the box score, you wouldn’t get the correct mental picture of the play, now would you?

It’d be easier if MLS would just make the right call.

We’ll discuss the water break later this afternoon.

YOUR CALL: Goal or own-goal? Tell us what you saw and whether the decision by MLS bothers you.